Parcel and article sorting system and method

ABSTRACT

A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container. And a control system. The control system is configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/455,094 filed on Mar. 9, 2017 (issuing as U.S.Pat. No. 9,975,148 on May 22, 2018), which claims priority to PCT PatentApplication No. PCT/CN2016/090684 filed on Jul. 20, 2016, which claimspriority to Chinese Patent Application No. CN201510433995.5, filed onJul. 22, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated byreference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to sorting technology, and specifically toa parcel and article sorting system and method.

BACKGROUND ART

Parcel sorting includes dispensing packages going to differentdestinations to different exits through a delivery device, so as torealize unified transport of packages going to the same destination.This is especially advantageous in a order fulfillment center orshipping facility. Generally, a parcel containing articles for shipmentwill have a UPC, barcode, SKU, or similar that allows for identificationof the parcel identity and destination.

Article sorting includes dispensing articles that come from a pluralityof warehouse locations to different exits through a delivery device, soas to realize unified consolidation at a single exit or destinationpoint of all articles in a single order going to a destination in asingle package or parcel. This is especially advantageous in any type ofparcel fulfillment center.

The process is very labor intensive, which increases cost, errors inprocessing, and increases the time for packages to arrive, all lesseningthe end customer experience. Additionally, packages may be damaged,mispackaged, and the like, reducing efficiency for all involved parties.

Automated sorting equipment may be useful for addressing these issues,however, sorting equipment is expensive, requires significant capitalinvestment, takes up large portions of warehouse space, is limited inthe volume of packages that can be sorted, is significantlyunderutilized at less than peak periods, and has a long payback in mostcases due to the above factors.

Accordingly, a need exists for a solution to these problems.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages ofthe present invention clearer and easier to understand, in the followingcontents, preferable examples are particularly enumerated and describedin details with reference to the accompanying figures.

According to one or more embodiments, a system includes an articlesupply location. The article supply location includes a plurality ofarticles to be sorted. The system includes first and second transportvehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowedabout the vehicle and a second position in which the article isdeposited into a proximal container. The system includes a controlsystem configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparatearticles; determine one destination container of a plurality ofdestination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit aselected article; direct the first transport vehicle to transport aselected article to the destination container and deposit the article bymanipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position tothe second position for deposit of the selected article in thedestination container; direct the second transport vehicle to transporta disparate article to the destination container and deposit thedisparate article by manipulation of the second transport vehicle fromthe first position to the second position for deposit of the disparatearticle in the destination container; and determine when the order hasbeen completed.

According to one or more embodiments, the system includes an informationacquisition device that is configured to interact with the articles.

According to one or more embodiments, the control system is furtherconfigured to determine a characteristic of the article by interactingwith the article with the information acquisition device.

According to one or more embodiments, the control system is furtherconfigured to determine a characteristic of the article by interactingwith an identifier of the article with the information acquisitiondevice, wherein the identifier is a UPC or other product code associatedwith the article.

According to one or more embodiments, the system includes a platformelevated from a surface, wherein each of the first transport vehicle andsecond transport vehicle traverses the platform.

According to one or more embodiments, the destination container ispositioned proximal an opening in the platform. The first transportvehicle traverses the platform proximal the opening in the platform, andthen manipulates from the first position to the second position todeposit the article into the destination container.

According to one or more embodiments, each of the first transportvehicle and second transport vehicle carries a respective singleselected article.

According to one or more embodiments, the system includes a plurality ofadditional transport vehicles.

According to one or more embodiments, the control system is configuredto direct the first transport vehicle to return to a position proximalthe article supply. The first transport vehicle is in the first positionupon being positioned proximal the article supply.

According to one or more embodiments, the control system is configuredto direct a plurality of additional transport vehicles. The controlsystem is further configured to direct the plurality of additionaltransport vehicles such that the transport vehicles do not collide withone another.

According to one or more embodiments, a control system configured foruse with material handling of a plurality of articles includes a memoryand a processor. The control system is configured to receive a pluralityof orders for a plurality of disparate articles, batch the plurality oforders over a period of time, interact with an identifier affixed to anarticle or packaging associated with the article in order to determine acharacteristics of the article, determine one destination container of aplurality of destination containers to deposit, with a transportvehicle, a selected article, wherein the destination container isdetermined based on at least one order and the determined characteristicof the selected article, direct a first transport vehicle to transport aselected article to the destination container and deposit the selectedarticle by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from a firstposition to a second position for deposit of the selected article in thedestination container, direct a second transport vehicle to transport adisparate article to the destination container and deposit the disparatearticle by manipulation of the second transport vehicle from the firstposition to the second position for deposit of the disparate article inthe destination container, wherein the destination container isdetermined based on at least one order that is associated with theselected article, and determine when the order has been completed.

According to one or more embodiments, a system includes an articlesupply location. The article supply location includes a plurality ofarticles. The system includes a platform assembly that includes aplatform elevated from a proximal surface. The platform defines anopening and a container that is positioned proximal the opening in theplatform. The system includes first and second transport vehicles, eachhaving a first position in which an article is stowed about thetransport vehicle and a second position in which the article isdeposited into a proximal container. The first transport vehicletraverses the platform and positions proximal the opening to deposit thearticle in the destination container by manipulation from the firstposition to the second position. A control system is configured toreceive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine onedestination container of a plurality of receiving destination containersto direct the first transport vehicle to deposit a selected article,direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article tothe destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of thefirst transport vehicle from the first position to the second positionfor deposit of the selected article in the destination container, directthe second transport vehicle to transport a disparate article to thedestination container and deposit the disparate article by manipulationof the second transport vehicle from the first position to the secondposition for deposit of the disparate article in the destinationcontainer, and determine when the order for purchase has been completed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the technical solutions of the examples of thepresent invention more clearly, the figures required to be used for theexamples will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood thatthe following figures only show some examples of the present invention,and thus shall not be construed as limiting the scope thereof; and for aperson skilled in the art, further relevant figures could also beobtained according to the figures without using inventive efforts.

FIG. 1 shows a structural schematic diagram of a sorting system providedin Example 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a system chart of the sorting system provided in Example 1of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a system chart of another sorting system provided inExample 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a structural schematic diagram of another sorting systemprovided in Example 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow diagram for sorting provided in Example 2of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows an illustration of an embodiment of the system disclosedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Below, the technical solutions in the examples of the present inventionare depicted clearly and comprehensively with reference to the figuresaccording to the examples of the present invention. Obviously, theexamples depicted here are merely some examples, but not all examples ofthe present invention. In general, the components in the examples of thepresent invention depicted and shown in the figures herein can bearranged and designed according to different configurations. Thus,detailed description of the examples of the present invention providedin the figures below are not intended to limit the scope of the presentinvention as claimed, but merely represent selected examples of thepresent invention. On the basis of the examples of the presentinvention, all of other examples that could be obtained by a personskilled in the art without using inventive efforts will fall within thescope of protection of the present invention.

Example 1

In order to solve the problem existing in the prior art that the parcelsorting efficiency needs to be increased, as shown in FIG. 1, an exampleof the present invention provides a parcel sorting system. The parcelsorting system includes a parcel sorting device 100 and a parcelcollecting device 101; the parcel sorting device 100 is provided thereonwith a plurality of parcel checking inlets 104 and a plurality of parceloutlets 102, and the parcel collecting device 101 is located just belowthe parcel sorting device 100; the plurality of parcel outlets 102 onthe parcel sorting device 100 are respectively in communication orconnected with the parcel collecting device 101, the plurality of parceloutlets 102 are respectively located at the middle or/and edges of theor throughout the parcel sorting device 100, and the parcel collectingdevice 101 is provided thereon with storage devices 103, with onestorage device located at each of positions of the parcel outlets, andan opening diameter of the storage device 103 is greater than a diameterof the parcel outlet 102.

The parcel sorting device 100 and the parcel collecting device 101 areembodied in many structures, e.g. quadrangle, circle, polygon and so on,and the parcel collecting device 101 and the parcel sorting device 100preferably have substantially the same area.

In order to improve the parcel sorting efficiency, preferably, each ofthe parcel checking inlets 104 is provided with one parcel informationacquisition device 200. The parcel checking inlets 104 are in one-to-onecorrespondence with the parcel information acquisition devices 200, theparcel information acquisition devices 200 are configured to acquireparcel information of the parcels to be sorted that enter the parcelchecking inlets 104 corresponding to the parcel information acquisitiondevices 200, and the parcel information contains destinations of theparcels to be sorted.

A plurality of parcel checking inlets 104 are provided, with each parcelchecking inlet 104 being provided with a parcel information acquisitiondevice 200, such that the information acquisition and sorting of theplurality of parcels to be sorted may be performed simultaneously at theplurality of parcel checking inlets 104, so as to significantly increasethe parcel information acquisition efficiency, thereby improving theparcel sorting efficiency.

In the above, there are many manners for the parcel informationacquisition devices 200 to acquire the parcel information of the parcelsto be sorted. Preferably, the destination information is carried in adestination address information code, the destination addressinformation code is provided on the parcel to be sorted, each of theparcel information acquisition devices 200 includes a scanner, and thescanner is configured to scan the information code for obtaining thedestination of the parcel to be sorted. For example, the parcels to besorted are provided thereon with information codes containingdestination information of the parcels to be sorted, and the parcelinformation acquisition devices 200 obtain the destinations of theparcels to be sorted by scanning the information codes on the parcels tobe sorted, wherein the information code may be a bar code, atwo-dimensional code, a radio frequency tag etc., and correspondingly,the parcel information acquisition device 200 may be a bar code scanner,a two-dimensional code scanner, a radio frequency identifier, etc., andthe mobile transport device 202 may be an auto-navigating small vehicle.

According to actual demands, in addition to the destination, the parcelinformation may further contain information about the parcel volume,weight etc., and correspondingly, the parcel information acquisitiondevice 200 may further include a weighing device, a volume scanner, etc.

While the parcel information is highly-efficiently obtained, in order toimprove the efficiency of subsequent sorting, preferably, after theplurality of parcel information acquisition devices 200 simultaneouslyacquire the parcel information of the respective parcels to be sorted,the control device 201 is used to complete the analytical processing ofthe obtained parcel information of all the parcels to be sorted, therebyobtaining the destination information of the respective parcels to besorted. For example, the system further includes a control device 201,the control device 201 is in connection with all the parcel informationacquisition devices 200 so as to obtain the parcel information acquiredby all the parcel information acquisition devices 200, to obtain thedestinations of the respective parcels to be sorted.

After obtaining the parcel information, in order to improve theefficiency of the subsequent sorting processes, the system preferablyfurther includes a plurality of mobile transport devices 202, whereinthe plurality of mobile transport devices 202 are in connection with thecontrol device 201, the control device 201 is pre-provided with parceloutlets 102 respectively corresponding to different destinations, thecontrol device 201 is further configured to control, according to theobtained destinations of the parcels to be sorted, at least one of themobile transport devices 202 to transport the parcels to be sorted tothe parcel outlets 102 corresponding to the destinations of the parcelsto be sorted, as shown in FIG. 2.

In the above, the control device 201 has already obtained thedestinations of the respective parcels to be sorted at the respectiveparcel checking inlets 104, and the parcel sorting can be completed justby obtaining the transport paths of the respective parcels to be sortedthrough analysis according to the positions of the parcel outlets 102corresponding to the destinations of the respective parcels to besorted, and then controlling at least one of the mobile transportdevices 202 to transport, according to the transport paths, each of theparcels to be sorted to the parcel outlets 102 corresponding to thedestinations of the parcels to be sorted.

The analysis by the control device 201 on the transport paths of therespective parcels to be sorted is performed simultaneously. After thepath analysis is completed, the plurality of mobile transport devices202 may be simultaneously controlled, to simultaneously completetransporting of the individual parcels to be sorted, therebysignificantly improving the parcel sorting efficiency.

Each of the mobile transport devices 202 is configured to load oneparcel to be sorted or a plurality of parcels to be sorted that go tothe same destination. Preferably, the mobile transport device 202 isconfigured to transport one parcel to be sorted one time, and thecontrol device 201 sends a control instruction to the mobile transportdevice 202 after obtaining the destination of the parcel to be sortedthat is going to be transported by the mobile transport device 202, suchthat the mobile transport device 202 travels to the position of theparcel outlet 102 corresponding to the destination of the parcel to besorted.

In the above, the parcels to be sorted may be manually loaded onto themobile transport devices 202, and the parcels to be sorted may also beautomatically loaded onto the mobile transport devices 202 byintelligently controlling parcel gripping devices or the like throughthe control device 201. Similarly, the transport of the parcels to besorted from the parcel outlets 102 to the parcel collecting device 101can be performed manually, and may also be completed by intelligentlycontrolling parcel gripping devices or the like through the controldevice 201.

In order to assure that the respective parcels to be sorted that aretransported into the parcel collecting device 101 can be delivered intime, the system preferably further includes a detection device 204 anda transfer device 203, wherein the detection device 204 is configured todetect whether a storage device 103 is full or not and to transmit tothe control device 201 the obtained information regarding whether thestorage device 103 is full or not, and the transfer device 203 isconfigured to transfer the storage device 103 which is full according toan instruction from the control device 201. There are many options forthe transfer device 203, e.g. an intelligent robot; and for anotherexample, the storage device 103 is mounted on the transfer device 203,and the transfer device 203 is a large-scale auto-navigating vehicle andmay move to a position and load and unload the parcels according to thecontrol instruction of the control device 201, as shown in FIGS. 3 and4.

Based on the above-mentioned system architecture, the examples of thepresent invention are implemented as follows:

the respective mobile transport devices, such as a forklift, transportthe parcels to be sorted to the respective parcel checking inlets 104,and the parcel information acquisition devices 200 at the respectiveparcel checking inlets 104 acquire the parcel information of therespective parcels and transmit the acquired parcel information to thecontrol device 201. The control device 201 performs simultaneousanalysis on the parcel information of the plurality of parcels to besorted to obtain the destinations of the respective parcels to be sortedand the parcel outlets 102 corresponding to the respective destinations,and controls the plurality of mobile transport devices 202 tosimultaneously transport the respective parcels to be sorted to thecorresponding parcel outlets 102. The parcels to be sorted are deliveredfrom the parcel outlets 102 into the storage devices 103 on the parcelcollecting device 101 located below, and then they are moved away fromthe parcel outlets 102 according to a control instruction of the controldevice 201 and wait for further instructions. The processes above arerepeated till all the parcels to be sorted are delivered into thestorage devices 103. In the meantime, the detection device 204constantly detects whether there is a storage device 203 which is fullof parcels, and when there is a storage device 103 full of parcels, thecontrol device 201 controls the transfer device 203 to transfer thestorage device 103 and placing an empty storage device 103 at theposition where the transferred storage device 103 was, till sorting ofall the parcels to be sorted is completed. This could also be performedby a person.

The parcel sorting system provided in an example of the presentinvention can make full use of the area of the parcel sorting device100, increasing a plurality of effective parcel outlets 102 and solvingthe traditional problem of goods accumulation and thereby greatlyincreasing checking efficiency, so as to make the whole operation flowof the parcel sorting more systematized and intelligentized. And a“double” structure is creatively adopted, with the parcel sorting device100 and the parcel collecting device 101 being arranged one above theother for sorting parcels, wherein the parcel outlets 102 on the parcelsorting device 100 are in communication or positioning with the parcelcollecting device 101, and during parcel sorting, the parcels to besorted can enter the parcel collecting device 101 arranged below just bypassing through the parcel outlets 102, thereby completing the sorting.Such a structural design enables that the parcel outlets 102 can beflexibly arranged on the edges of the parcel sorting device 100 or atmiddle positions of the edges, rather than only being provided at theedges of the parcel sorting device 100 as those in the prior art, wherethe middle position in the examples of the present invention refers topositions on the parcel sorting device 100 other than the edges. Theutilization ratio of the parcel sorting device 100 is efficientlyimproved, the transport path for parcel sorting is shortened, the parcelsorting efficiency is increased, and the design is very ingenious.

Example 2

As shown in FIG. 5, an example of the present invention provides aparcel sorting method, which is applied to a parcel sorting system,wherein the parcel sorting system comprises a parcel sorting device anda parcel collecting device; the parcel sorting device is provided with aplurality of parcel checking inlets and a plurality of parcel outlets,and the parcel collecting device is located just below the parcelsorting device; the plurality of parcel outlets on the parcel sortingdevice are respectively in communication with the parcel collectingdevice, the plurality of parcel outlets are respectively located at themiddle or/and edges of the parcel sorting device, and the parcelcollecting device is respectively provided thereon with storage devices,with one storage device located at each of positions the parcel outlets,and an opening diameter of the storage device is greater than a diameterof the parcel outlet; and the method includes:

step S300: presetting correspondence relationships between the parceloutlets and the parcels to be sorted that go to different destinations;step S301: obtaining the destinations of the parcels to be sorted; stepS302: transporting the parcels to be sorted to the parcel outletscorresponding to the destinations of the parcels to be sorted; and stepS303: delivering, through the parcel outlets, the parcels to be sortedinto the storage devices under the parcel outlets.

In order to improve the parcel sorting efficiency, preferably, each ofthe parcel checking inlets is provided with one parcel informationacquisition device, the parcel checking inlets are in one-to-onecorrespondence with the parcel information acquisition devices, andobtaining the destinations of the parcels to be sorted includes:acquiring, by the respective parcel information acquisition devices, theparcel information of the parcels to be sorted that enter the parcelchecking inlets corresponding to the parcel information acquisitiondevices, with the parcel information containing the destinations of theparcels to be sorted.

There are many manners for the parcel information acquisition devices toacquire the parcel information on the parcels to be sorted. Preferably,the destination information is carried in a destination addressinformation code, the destination address information code is providedon the parcel to be sorted, each of the parcel information acquisitiondevices includes a scanner, and the scanner is configured to scan theinformation code for obtaining the destination of the parcel to besorted. For example, the parcels to be sorted are provided thereon withinformation codes containing destination information of the parcels tobe sorted, and the parcel information acquisition devices obtain thedestinations of the parcels to be sorted by scanning the informationcodes on the parcels to be sorted, wherein the information code may be abar code, a QR code, an RF Tag etc., and correspondingly, the parcelinformation acquisition device may be a bar code scanner, atwo-dimensional code scanner, a radio frequency identifier, etc., andthe mobile transport device may be an auto-navigating small vehicle.

According to actual demands, in addition to the destination, the parcelinformation may further contain information about the parcel volume,weight etc., and correspondingly, the parcel information acquisitiondevice may further include a weighing device, a volume scanner, etc.

While the parcel information is highly-efficiently obtained, in order toimprove the efficiency of subsequent sorting, preferably, after theplurality of parcel information acquisition devices simultaneouslyacquire the parcel information of the respective parcels to be sorted,the control device is used to complete the analytical processing of theobtained parcel information of all the parcels to be sorted, therebyobtaining the destination information of the respective parcels to besorted. For example, the system further includes a control device and aplurality of mobile transport devices, wherein the correspondencerelationships between the parcel outlets and the parcels to be sortedthat go to different destinations are preset in the control device, andtransporting the parcels to be sorted to the parcel outletscorresponding to the destinations of the parcels to be sorted includes:obtaining, by the control device, the parcel information acquired by allthe parcel information acquisition devices to obtain the destinations ofthe respective parcels to be sorted; and controlling at least one of themobile transport devices, according to the obtained destinations of theparcels to be sorted, to transport the parcels to be sorted to theparcel outlets corresponding to the destinations of the parcels to besorted.

After obtaining the parcel information, in order to improve theefficiency of the subsequent sorting processes, the system preferablyfurther includes a detection device and a transfer device, and themethod further includes: obtaining, by the control device, theinformation detected by the detection device about whether the storagedevice is full or not, and when obtaining information indicating thatthe storage device is full, transmitting to the transfer device aninstruction for transferring the storage device which is full.

In the above, the control device has already obtained the destinationsof the respective parcels to be sorted at the respective parcel checkinginlets, and the parcel sorting can be completed just by obtaining thetransport paths of the respective parcels to be sorted through analysisaccording to the positions of the parcel outlets corresponding to thedestinations of the respective parcels to be sorted, and thencontrolling at least one of the mobile transport devices to transport,according to the transport paths, each of the parcels to be sorted tothe parcel outlets corresponding to the destinations of the parcels tobe sorted.

The analysis by the control device on the transport paths of therespective parcels to be sorted is performed simultaneously. Aftercompleting the path analysis, the plurality of mobile transport devicesmay be simultaneously controlled to simultaneously complete transportingof the respective parcels to be sorted, thereby significantly improvingthe parcel sorting efficiency.

Each of the mobile transport devices is configured to load one parcel tobe sorted or a plurality of parcels to be sorted that go to the samedestination. Preferably, the mobile transport device is configured totransport one parcel to be sorted one time, and the control device sendsa control instruction to the mobile transport device after obtaining thedestination of the parcel to be sorted that is going to be transportedby the mobile transport device, such that the mobile transport devicetravels to the position of the parcel outlet corresponding to thedestination of the parcel to be sorted.

In the above, the parcels to be sorted may be manually loaded onto themobile transport device, and the parcels to be sorted may also beautomatically loaded onto the mobile transport devices by intelligentlycontrolling parcel gripping devices or the like through the controldevice. Similarly, the transport of the parcels to be sorted from theparcel outlets to the parcel collecting device can be performedmanually, and may also be completed by intelligently controlling parcelgripping devices or the like through the control device.

As to the methods provided in the examples of the present invention, theimplementation principles and the technical effects produced thereof arethe same as those in the preceding examples regarding the systems, andfor brief description, as for contents not mentioned in the examplesregarding the methods, reference can be made to the correspondingcontents in the preceding examples regarding the systems.

Example 3

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a system for use in an order fulfillmentcenter or any other facility that receives orders or listings ofarticles for an order. The system provides an improvement for sortingorders and packaging the same for fulfillment. The system includes aplatform that is elevated proximal to a lower level, which in someembodiments may be a second platform. The platform provides a surfacefor transport vehicles 202 to traverse to deposit an article to adestination container 208. In operation, a device or conveyor delivers acontainer of articles proximal a chute 214 or other material handlingsystem. The material handling system delivers the container of articlesto an article supply location. The container may contain product that isidentical or may be disparate product.

An operator may select an article from the container and image anidentifier 216 positioned on the article via the acquisition device 200.Optionally, the acquisition device 200 may automatically interact withidentifier 216 for article recognition. The operator may place thearticle on the vehicle 202, or the system and process may be set up sothat such deposition of article onto vehicle 202 is automated. Theacquisition device 200 may then communicate the article identifierinformation to the control device 201.

The article supply, namely the articles shown in the containers, may bea supply of articles that has identifier 216 on each article. Theinformation acquisition devices 200 obtain the information contained inthe identifier 216 of the articles to be sorted by identifying theinformation codes on the articles to be sorted, wherein the informationcode may be a bar code, a two-dimensional code, a radio frequency tagetc., and correspondingly, the parcel information acquisition device 200may be a bar code scanner, a two-dimensional code scanner, a radiofrequency identifier, etc.

The transport vehicle 202 may have a first position in which an articleis stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the articleis deposited into a proximal destination container.

Additionally, the information acquisition device may be configured toimage the article and compare against a database of known articles todetermine a characteristic, SKU or identity of the article.

In one or more embodiments, the mobile transport device 202 may be anauto-navigating small vehicle.

The control system 201 is configured to determine one destinationcontainer 208 of a plurality of destination containers to deposit, withthe transport vehicle 202, a selected article based on the interactionwith the identifier 216. The control system 201 is further configured todirect the transport vehicle to transport the selected article to thedestination container and deposit the article by manipulation of thetransport car from the first position to the second position for depositof the selected article in the destination container.

The system may be embodied in a multiple level arrangement. The multiplelevel arrangement may include an elevated platform above a lower level,which may be the floor or a second platform. In operation, the controlsystem determines that a destination container needs an articledeposited therein. In the multiple level arrangement, the destinationcontainer is positioned proximal an opening in the elevated platform.The transport vehicle traverses the elevated platform to the destinationcontainer and deposits the article by manipulation of the transportvehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit ofthe selected article in the destination container.

As an example, consider a situation at an order fulfillment facilitywhere an order calls for 3 red shirts, 2 blue shirts, and 2 pair of bluejeans to be transported to an end destination retailer. The controlsystem 201 may know that at article supply #1 are the red shirts,article supply #5 has blue shirts, and article supply #13 has bluejeans. The control system 201 directs a respective transport vehicle 202to each of article supply #1, article supply #5, and article supply #13.The control system 201 also determines or otherwise knows that thedestination container for delivery of the order is located at a certainlocation on the platform. The control system 201 then directs eachrespective transport vehicle 202 to deposit articles into thedestination container until the entire order is filled. At that time,the control system 201 knows that the order is filled and can direct orotherwise instruct removal of the destination container.

The control system may be further configured to direct the transportvehicle to return to be proximally located at any article supply. Thetransport vehicle is in the first position upon being proximal at anarticle supply. The control system may be further configured to direct aplurality of transport vehicles such that the transport vehicles do notcollide with one another.

Disclosed herein is thus a system. The system includes an articlesupply. The article supply includes a plurality of articles at an orderfulfillment center. In operation, the system has a method or materialhandling system to move and transport containers of articles. The methodor material handling system delivers a container of articles to anarticle supply location. The container may contain product that isidentical or may be disparate product. A control system 201 communicatesover a network. The network may be a wired or wireless network. Thewireless network may be Bluetooth®, WIFI, a specific Radio Frequency,cellular, and the like. The control system 201 may be embodied as aserver with a processor and a memory, where the processor executes manyinstructions provided herein. The control system 201 may be configuredto receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles to fulfill anorder. The disparate articles may be a plurality of similar articleshaving different sizes, colors, and the like, such as apparel, or thedisparate articles may be largely unrelated. The control system 201 maybe configured to determine one destination container of a plurality ofdestination containers to deposit, with the transport vehicle, aselected article. The control system 201 may be configured to direct thetransport vehicle to transport the selected article which is stowedabout the vehicle to the destination container and deposit the articleby manipulation of the transport vehicle from the first position to thesecond position for deposit of the selected article in the destinationcontainer. The control system 201 may be configured to direct thetransport vehicle to transport a disparate article to the destinationcontainer and deposit the disparate article by manipulation of thetransport vehicle from the first position to the second position fordeposit of the selected disparate article in the destination container.The control system 201 may be configured to determine when the order iscomplete.

The system may include an information acquisition device 200 that isconfigured to image the selected article. The control system may then befurther configured to determine a characteristic of the selected articleby interacting with the selected article with the informationacquisition device. This interaction may include optical recognition todetermine one or more characteristic of an article, including size,color, deformation or other defect, UPC or other identifying code, andthe like.

The control system may be further configured to determine acharacteristic of the selected article by interacting with an identifier216 of the selected article with the information acquisition device. Theidentifier may be a UPC or other product code associated with thearticle.

The system may further include an elevated platform above a lower level.The transport vehicle traverses the platform. The destination containeris positioned proximal a recess in the platform. The transport vehicletraverses the platform, positions the vehicle proximal the recess andthen manipulates from the first position to the second position todeposit the article. Each transport vehicle may carry a respectivesingle selected article, and multiple transport vehicles may betraversing the platform at any given time. The control system may beconfigured to direct the transport vehicle to return to a positionproximal an article supply. The transport vehicle is in the firstposition upon being proximal an article supply. The control system maybe configured to direct a plurality of transport vehicles. The controlsystem is further configured to direct the plurality of transportvehicles such that the transport vehicles do not collide with oneanother.

A method may also be provided. The method may include receiving an orderfor a plurality of disparate articles, determining one destinationcontainer of a plurality of destination containers to direct thetransport vehicle to deposit a selected article, directing the firsttransport vehicle to transport the selected article to the destinationcontainer and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transportvehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit ofthe selected article in the destination container, directing the secondtransport vehicle to transport a disparate article to the destinationcontainer and deposit the disparate article by manipulation of thesecond transport vehicle from the first position to the second positionfor deposit of the selected disparate article in the destinationcontainer, and determining when the order has been completed.

Example 4

In another example utilizing the same or many of the componentsdiscussed in regard to Example 3, a control system receives an order forfulfillment. The order, in this example, may include articles fromvarious portions of a warehouse or fulfillment center. The controlsystem batches orders, thus allowing for multiple orders to be fulfilledat once in a time efficient manner.

The control system may then determine that a plurality of articles to besorted are located within a first portion of the fulfillment center, anda second plurality of articles to be sorted are located within a secondportion of the fulfillment center, and the like. The plurality ofarticles span the batched orders.

The control system may then direct a person or an automated machine topull the plurality of articles associated with the batched orders wherethe articles are in the first portion of the fulfillment center. Thosepulled articles in the first location may then be positioned in a case,bin or other container. Similarly, the pulled articles in the secondlocation may then be positioned into a separate case, bin or othercontainer. The bin or other container is then taken to a conveyor,chute, or the like to transport the pulled articles to a location ofarticle supply. A person may then position an article onto a transportvehicle, or an automated machine may then position the article onto thetransport vehicle.

The information acquisition device may then image the UPC or otheridentifying code on the article to determine the article identity. Theinformation acquisition device then communicates the article identity tothe control system, which is then able to compare the article identityto the database of orders that have been batched, and assign adestination container for depositing the article based on the orders.The control system then does this for each item until the orders arefilled.

The destination container may be positioned below the platform, where achute may extend from the elevated platform to the destination containerin order to guide the article into the destination container.

Example 5

In another example utilizing the same or many of the componentsdiscussed in regard to Example 3, a control system receives an order forstore fulfillment. The order, in this example, may include articles fromvarious portions of a warehouse or fulfillment center. The controlsystem batches orders for stores, thus allowing for multiple storeorders to be fulfilled at once in a time efficient manner.

The control system may then determine that a plurality of articles to besorted are located within a first portion of the fulfillment center, anda second plurality of articles to be sorted are located within a secondportion of the fulfillment center, and the like. The plurality ofarticles span the store orders.

The control system may then direct a person or an automated machine topull the plurality of articles associated with the stores orders wherethe articles are in the first portion of the fulfillment center. Thosepulled articles in the first location may then be positioned in a case,bin or other container. Similarly, the pulled articles in the secondlocation may then be positioned into a separate case, bin or othercontainer. The bin or other container is then taken to a conveyor,chute, small vehicle, or the like to transport the pulled articles to alocation of article supply. A person may then place an article onto atransport vehicle, or an automated machine may then place the articleonto the transport vehicle.

The information acquisition device may then image the UPC or otheridentifying code on the article to determine the article identity. Theinformation acquisition device then communicates the article identity tothe control system which is then able to compare the article identity tothe database of store orders that have been batched, and assign adestination container for depositing the article based on the individualstore. The control system then does this for each article until a storeorder is filled.

The control system may be further configured to segregate a store orderinto departments such that all articles for a given store department areassigned to a single destination container. Store departments mayinclude or be defined as women's, men's, shoes, etc.

The destination container may be positioned below the platform, where achute may extend from the elevated platform to the destination containerin order to guide the article into the destination container.

Example 6

In another example utilizing the same or many of the componentsdiscussed in regard to Example 3, an operation receives returns ofarticles from a customer. The returns arrive at a returns processingarea and are received into the facility. In operation, a method, deviceor conveyor delivers a container of returned articles proximal a chuteor other material handling system or method. The material handlingsystem or method delivers the container of returned articles to anarticle supply location.

An operator may then place a single returned article onto a transportvehicle, or an automated machine may then place the article onto thetransport vehicle.

The information acquisition device may then image the UPC or otheridentifying code on the article to determine the article identity. Theinformation acquisition device then communicates the article identity tothe control system is then able to compare the article identity to thedatabase of the articles in the article master database, and assign adestination container for depositing the article based on the articleidentity or SKU. The control system then does this for each articleuntil all returned articles have been transported and deposited intodestination containers. The control system can be configured totransport and deposit identical or similar articles into a singledestination container.

The destination container may be positioned below the platform, where achute may extend from the the elevated platform to the destinationcontainer in order to guide the article into the destination container.

Example 7

In another example utilizing the same or many of the componentsdiscussed in regard to Example 3, a control system receives an order forfulfillment. The order, in this example, may include articles fromvarious portions of a warehouse or fulfillment center. The controlsystem batches orders, thus allowing for multiple orders to be fulfilledat once in a time efficient manner.

The control system may then determine that a plurality of articles to besorted are located within a first portion of the fulfillment center, anda second plurality of articles to be sorted are located within a secondportion of the fulfillment center, and the like. The plurality ofarticles span the batched orders.

The control system may then direct a person or an automated machine topull the plurality of articles associated with the batched orders wherethe articles are in the first portion of the fulfillment center. Thosepulled articles in the first location may then be positioned in a case,bin or other container. Similarly, the pulled articles in the secondlocation may then be positioned into a separate case, bin or othercontainer. The bin or other container is then taken to a conveyor,chute, or the like to transport the pulled articles to a location ofarticle supply. A person may then position an article onto a transportvehicle, or an automated machine may then position the article onto thetransport vehicle.

The information acquisition device may then image the UPC or otheridentifying code on the article to determine the article identity. Theinformation acquisition device then communicates the article identity tothe control system, which is then able to compare the article identityto the database of orders that have been batched, and assign adestination container for depositing the article based on the orders.The control system then does this for each item until the orders arefilled.

The destination container may be positioned on the same platform orsurface as the transport vehicle and the transport vehicle may depositdirectly into the destination container.

As to the above, they are merely specific embodiments of the presentinvention; however, the scope of protection of the present invention isnot limited thereto, and within the disclosed technical scope of thepresent invention, any modifications or substitutions that a personskilled in the art could readily conceive of should fall within thescope of protection of the present invention. Thus, the scope ofprotection of the present invention shall be determined by the scope ofprotection of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: an article supplylocation, wherein the article supply location includes a plurality ofarticles to be sorted that have been pulled from batched orders from adistribution center; first and second computer controlled transportvehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowedabout the vehicle and a second position in which the article isdeposited into a proximal destination container; a platform elevatedfrom a first surface, wherein the first and second computer controlledtransport vehicle traverse the platform and the stowed articles aredeposited into a destination container positioned about the firstsurface proximal an opening in the platform; a control system configuredto: receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles found withinthe article supply location; determine a destination container of aplurality of destination containers to direct the first and secondcomputer controlled transport vehicles to deposit a first and a secondarticle therein based on a product type of each article, the first andsecond articles selected from the plurality of disparate articles,wherein the destination container corresponds with an order; direct anautomated deposition of the first and second articles from the articlesupply location onto the first and second computer controlled transportvehicles respectively; direct the first and second computer controlledtransport vehicles to transport and deposit the first and secondarticles in the destination container by manipulation of each of thefirst and second computer controlled transport vehicles from the firstposition to the second position; and determine the order has beencompleted.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofdestination containers are mobile.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein theproduct type of each article is determined by interacting with aninformation acquisition device at the article supply location.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the product type of each article isdetermined by interacting with an identifier of the article with aninformation acquisition device, wherein the identifier is a UPC or otherproduct code associated with the article.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein the first computer controlled transport vehicle traverses theplatform proximal the opening in the platform, then manipulates from thefirst position to the second position to deposit the first article intothe destination container through the opening in the first platform. 6.The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured todirect a plurality of additional transport vehicles, wherein the controlsystem is further configured to direct the plurality of additionaltransport vehicles such that the transport vehicles do not collide withone another.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system isconfigured to direct the first transport vehicle to return to a positionproximal the article supply location, wherein the first transportvehicle is in the first position upon being positioned proximal thearticle supply location.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlsystem is configured to simultaneously acquire the product type of eacharticle and sort the plurality of disparate articles.
 9. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the information acquisition device is configured toweigh the article and calculate a volume of the article.
 10. The systemof claim 1, wherein each of the first computer controlled transportvehicle and the second computer controlled transport vehicle carries arespective single selected article.
 11. The system of claim 10, furtherincluding a plurality of additional transport vehicles.
 12. A controlsystem configured for use with material handling of a plurality ofdisparate articles, the control system comprising a memory and aprocessor, the control system configured to: receive a plurality oforders for a plurality of disparate articles; batch the plurality oforders over a period of time, wherein the plurality of orders arereceived from an article supply location that includes the plurality ofdisparate articles that have been pulled from batched orders from alocation in a distribution center; interact with an identifier affixedto an article or packaging associated with the article in order todetermine a product type of the respective article at the article supplylocation; determine a first destination container of a plurality ofdestination containers to deposit, with a computer controlled transportvehicle, a first article, wherein the destination container isdetermined based on a first order and the determined product type of theselected first article; determine a second destination container of theplurality of destination containers to deposit, with a computercontrolled transport vehicle, a second article, wherein the seconddestination container is determined based on a second order and thedetermined product type of the selected second article; direct anautomated deposition of the first and second articles from the articlesupply location onto the first and second computer controlled transportvehicles respectively; direct the first computer controlled transportvehicle to transport the first article to the first destinationcontainer and deposit the first article in the first destinationcontainer by manipulation of the first computer controlled transportvehicles from a first position to a second position; direct the secondcomputer controlled transport vehicle to transport the second article tothe second destination container and deposit the second article in thesecond destination container by manipulation of the second computercontrolled transport vehicle from the first position to the secondposition; and determine when at least one of the first and the secondorders has been completed.
 13. The control system of claim 12, whereinthe plurality of destination containers are mobile.
 14. The controlsystem of claim 12, wherein the identifier is a UPC or other productcode associated with the article.
 15. The control system of claim 12,wherein the first computer controlled transport vehicle traverses aplatform proximal an opening in the platform, then manipulates from thefirst position to the second position to deposit the article into thedestination container through the opening in the platform.
 16. Thecontrol system of claim 12, wherein the control system is configured tosimultaneously acquire the product type of each article and sort theplurality of disparate articles.
 17. The control system of claim 12,wherein the control system is configured to weigh the article andcalculate a volume of the article.
 18. The control system of claim 12,wherein each of the first computer controlled transport vehicle and thesecond computer controlled transport vehicle carries a respective singleselected article.
 19. The control system of claim 18, further includinga plurality of additional transport vehicles.
 20. A system comprising: afirst article supply location, wherein the first article supply locationincludes a plurality of articles to be sorted that have been pulled frombatched orders from a first location in a distribution center, a secondarticle supply location, wherein the second article supply locationincludes a plurality of articles to be sorted that have been pulled frombatched orders from a second location in the distribution center,wherein a product type of each article is determined by interacting withan information acquisition device at the respective first article supplylocation and second article supply location; first and second computercontrolled transport vehicles, each vehicle having a first position inwhich a selected article is stowed about the vehicle and a secondposition in which the selected article is deposited into a proximalcontainer by manipulating a support of the vehicle that carries theselected article and deposits the selected article when in the secondposition; a first platform elevated from a first surface, wherein thefirst computer controlled transport vehicle traverses the first platformand the selected articles are deposited into a destination containerpositioned about the first surface; a control system configured to:receive orders for a plurality of disparate articles, wherein thedisparate articles are found within the first or second article supplylocation; determine a first destination container of a plurality ofdestination containers to direct the first transport vehicle to deposita first article from the first or second article supply location basedon the determined product type, wherein the destination containercorresponds with an order for a first business; determine a seconddestination container of the plurality of destination containers todirect the second transport vehicle to deposit a second article from thefirst or second article supply location based on the determined producttype, wherein the second destination container corresponds with an orderfor a second business; direct an automated deposition of the first andsecond articles onto the first and second computer controlled transportvehicles respectively; direct the first transport vehicle to transportand deposit the selected first article in the first destinationcontainer by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the firstposition to the second position; direct the second transport vehicle totransport and deposit the selected second article in the seconddestination container by manipulation of the support of the secondtransport vehicle from the first position to the second position; anddetermine when at least one of the orders has been completed.